Choose your Topic, Markets, and Article Type

Steps 1 and 2 of Write Article. Enter your topic as a sentence or keywords, set target countries and language, add local SEO locations if relevant, then pick one of 12 article formats.

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The first two steps of Write Article set what the article is about and what shape it takes.

Step 1: Topic & Setup

Topic

Enter what the article should cover. You can write it as a sentence or as keywords. Both work.

A specific topic produces a better article than a broad one. "How to choose a boiler for a three bedroom house" gives the outline something to work with. "Boilers" leaves it guessing.

You can also start from a suggestion. Topics arrive here from Keyword Research, Topic Clusters, and the Content Calendar when you begin writing from one of those.

Target Countries

Which markets the article is for. Pre-filled from your Brand Profile.

This affects the keyword data you see in later steps, since search volume and competition differ by country, and it affects spelling and terminology in the writing.

Language

Pre-filled based on your countries and Brand Profile.

Local SEO Locations

Optional. Add cities or regions when the article should target specific places, such as service-area pages.

You can enter them manually or import the locations already in your Brand Profile. Pair this with the "Support local SEO" content goal in step 8 for local articles.

Step 2: Article Type

Pick the format. There are 12, and the choice changes the structure and the writing approach rather than just the title.

Type

Use it for

How-to guides

Step-by-step articles that teach readers how to solve a specific problem. Marked recommended.

Listicles

Numbered or ranked articles with ideas, examples, tips, tools, or recommendations.

Checklists

Scannable action lists readers can follow, complete, or use as a reference.

Q&A articles

Question-and-answer articles built around common reader questions.

Versus articles

Comparisons explaining differences, pros, cons, and best-fit options.

Roundups

Curated articles with tools, products, resources, experts, or examples.

Ultimate guides

Long-form pillar articles covering a topic deeply from start to finish.

News

Timely articles based on recent updates, announcements, or industry changes.

Video-to-blog

Blog posts built from video, transcripts, key points, summaries, and embeds.

Case Studies

Real examples showing a problem, the solution, the process, and the results.

Blog post

Standard articles for education, updates, insights, opinions, or thought leadership.

Product review

Reviews with features, pros, cons, use cases, comparisons, and a clear verdict.

Choosing Well

Match the format to what someone searching your topic actually wants. A search for "best CRM for small business" wants a roundup or a listicle. "How to migrate CRM data" wants a how-to guide. "Salesforce vs HubSpot" wants a versus article.

Getting this wrong is the most common reason a technically good article does not perform. The writing can be excellent and still be the wrong shape for the query.

If you are unsure, look at what currently ranks for your topic. Step 4 shows you those articles.

Notes

Choosing Video-to-blog changes step 3, recommending the YouTube and media research method and enabling video uploads.

Ultimate guides work best with a longer article length in step 8. Pairing an ultimate guide with the Short length works against itself.

Neither choice is locked in. You can go back to these steps at any point before you generate.